Gas turbine offshore installations

Abstract

The off-shore gas turbine system comprises a floating structure with at least one deck and a baseplate mounted on the deck. The baseplate supports a gas turbine having: a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, a combustor, a high pressure turbine, an intermediate pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine. The low pressure compressor is driven into rotation by the intermediate pressure turbine and the high pressure compressor is driven by the high pressure turbine. The low pressure turbine has a load coupling. The system further comprises a driven equipment mechanically connected to the load coupling of the low pressure turbine and driven into rotation by the low pressure turbine. An intercooler is provided between the low pressure compressor and the high pressure compressor. The baseplate is supported on the deck separately from the intercooler.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An off-shore gas turbine system comprising:
 a floating structure with at least one deck and a baseplate mounted on the deck;   wherein the baseplate supports:
 a gas turbine having: a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, a combustor, a high pressure turbine, an intermediate pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine; 
   the low pressure compressor being driven into rotation by the intermediate pressure turbine and the high pressure compressor being driven by the high pressure turbine; the low pressure turbine having a load coupling;
 at least one driven equipment mechanically connected to the load coupling of the low pressure turbine and driven into rotation by the low pressure turbine; 
 wherein an intercooler is provided between the low pressure compressor and the high pressure compressor, air at a first pressure value delivered by the low pressure compressor flowing through the intercooler before being delivered to the high pressure compressor; and 
 wherein the baseplate is supported on the deck separately from the intercooler; and the intercooler is connected to an exit diffuser scroll case of the low-pressure compressor and to an inlet collector scroll case of the high pressure compressor through respective displacement-tolerant fluid connections. 
   
     
     
         2 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein a variable bleed valve system is arranged between the exit diffuser scroll case of the low-pressure compressor and the intercooler or on the intercooler itself, the variable bleed valve system comprising a stack and silencer arrangement, supported on the deck separately from the baseplate. 
     
     
         3 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein the baseplate is connected to the deck with a substantially isostatic connection. 
     
     
         4 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein the baseplate is connected to the deck by means of a three-point connection. 
     
     
         5 . The gas turbine system of  claim 4 , wherein the three-point connection comprises three joints arranged under the baseplate and between the baseplate and the deck of the floating structure and are positioned at the vertices of a substantially isosceles triangle. 
     
     
         6 . The gas turbine system of  claim 4 , wherein the three-point connection comprises a first joint, a second joint and a third joint; wherein the first joint is arranged under the turbine, approximately along a centerline thereof and approximately at a flow connection between the gas turbine and the intercooler; and wherein the second joint and the third joint are arranged under the driven equipment. 
     
     
         7 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein the driven equipment comprises at least one compressor. 
     
     
         8 . The gas turbine system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one compressor is connected through a gearbox to the load coupling of the low pressure turbine. 
     
     
         9 . The gas turbine system of  claim 7 , wherein the driven equipment comprises at least a first compressor and a second compressor arranged in series; and wherein a gearbox is arranged between the gas turbine and the first compressor. 
     
     
         10 . The gas turbine system of  claim 7 , wherein the driven equipment comprises at least a first compressor and a second compressor arranged in series; and wherein a gearbox is arranged between the first compressor and the second compressor. 
     
     
         11 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas turbine is supported by a gas turbine platform constrained to the baseplate. 
     
     
         12 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein the driven equipment is supported by a load platform constrained to the baseplate. 
     
     
         13 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein the driven equipment comprises a first compressor and a second compressor, and wherein each the first compressor and the second compressor are supported by a respective first compressor platform and second compressor platform, the first compressor platform and the second compressor platform being connected to the baseplate. 
     
     
         14 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein the baseplate and the intercooler are placed both on the at least one deck. 
     
     
         15 . The gas turbine system of  claim 1 , wherein the intercooler is placed on a second deck at a different level than the at least one deck. 
     
     
         16 . The gas turbine system of  claim 15 , wherein the second deck is located under the at least one deck. 
     
     
         17 . The gas turbine system of  claim 14 , wherein the baseplate and the intercooler are at least partly vertically overlapping. 
     
     
         18 . The gas turbine system of  claim 15 , wherein the baseplate and the intercooler are at least partly vertically overlapping. 
     
     
         19 . The gas turbine system of  claim 16 , wherein the baseplate and the intercooler are at least partly vertically overlapping. 
     
     
         20 . A gas turbine system comprising:
 a floating structure with at least one deck and a baseplate mounted on the deck;   a gas turbine supported on the baseplate and having: a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, a combustor, a high pressure turbine, an intermediate pressure turbine, and a low pressure turbine, wherein the low pressure compressor is configured for being driven into rotation by the intermediate pressure turbine and the high pressure compressor is configured for being driven by the high pressure turbine, and wherein the low pressure turbine has a load coupling;   at least one driven equipment mechanically connected to the load coupling of the low pressure turbine and configured to be driven into rotation by the low pressure turbine; and   an intercooler disposed between the low pressure compressor and the high pressure compressor, the low pressure compressor configured to deliver air at a first pressure value for flow through the intercooler before being delivered to the high pressure compressor;   wherein the baseplate is supported on the deck separately from the intercooler, and the intercooler is connected to an exit diffuser scroll case of the low pressure compressor and to an inlet collector scroll case of the high pressure compressor through respective displacement-tolerant fluid connections.